Category: Travel

When I sat down to write this post, though, I realized I actually have a lot of requirements. Here’s my list: It has to be stylish, comfortable and layer-able—all a given. It also needs to be wrinkle-free and easy to clean, of course. Most importantly, though, it has to be able to stand up to humidity and heat, and that’s where it gets a little more complicated.

It turns out a lot of dresses—even sundresses—are lined or have long-ish sleeves. That means you can start getting sweaty fast, especially in the middle of a crowded street fair in 90 + degree heat, for example.

Here are a few I’ve found that stand the test of summer heat so you can effortlessly travel on.

If your social feed is starting to fill up with pic after pic of beautiful beaches, delicious pastries in Paris and top attractions in other European cities, you might have a major case of summer travel FOMO. Well, I’m here to let you in on a secret…

IMHO, summer might actually be the WORST time of year to travel. That’s right. Those edited photos you see don’t tell the entire story.

Here’s the real deal. Plane tickets are overpriced in the summer. Europe gets hot and crowded AF with tourists from May-August. Kids are out of school, so your plane ride is going to be less than pleasant. Some Europeans take their month-long vacation in July and August, so those beach destinations are going to be even more packed and some restaurants might be closed.

If you want to avoid all that, here’s what to do instead. I say plan your main trips of the year around the shoulder seasons of fall and spring. September, October, April, and early May. You can score major deals, the weather is still pleasant and you might have entire beaches and attractions to yourself.

I actually learned this tip when I studied abroad in London. I had to arrive at school there the day after Labor Day. Even though some of my friends went early to travel in Europe, I realized if I waited until September, tickets were so, so much cheaper. London in the fall was amazing and less crowded, too.

We recently got tickets to Greece for October for one-third of the price they would cost in August!

As for what to do until then, why not find a lake or beach nearby to relax at this summer? Go camping. Have a campfire in the backyard. We spent last weekend at Lake Champlain in Vermont. We left early Friday morning so there was very little traffic getting there and the lake was drop dead gorgeous.

After finding your piece of paradise, you might even give your friends a major case of FOMO of their own.

Sol De Janerio Bum Bum Beauty Voyage: Don’t forget about your bum bum! With this travel-friendly duo, you get a yummy smelling fragrance mist and a firming cream for your behind, legs, arms and belly.

Kopari Beauty Coconut Mini Melt: Is there anything coconut oil can’t do? In this case, it removes stubborn makeup, hydrates and even soothes chapped lips. Bring this tiny bottle with you everywhere-it will be a lifesaver. (Note: Photo is 5.1 oz., but it also comes in 2.5 oz. for travel.)

The main goal of any vacation is to come back feeling refreshed, right? Well recently, I started doing one ritual on trips that makes me feel more relaxed and sleep better at night…

Photo via JanClaus on Pixabay

I have a few messy habits, whether I’m at home or on the road. Even though I can’t stand clutter, I tend to throw my clothes all over the place or stuff them in my suitcase so they are nice and wrinkled by the end of the trip.

Lately, though, I’ve been making a pointof folding my pajamas in the morning when I travel and setting them out on the hotel bed or Airbnb dresser. After a long day of exploring or being out and about, my pajamas look so inviting. Especially when they are nicely folded on the hotel bed instead of crumpled in a pile on the top of my suitcase!

Coming back to a turned down hotel room with my pajamas waiting for me is the best. thing. ever. Especially if the room has been set with dim lighting and a chocolate on the pillow.

This weekend, hubs and I were in Buffalo, New York for our cousin’s graduation. What did every travel site recommend we do/eat while we were there? Go eat Buffalo wings, of course. And not just any Buffalo wings, but the original buffalo wings. The only problem? I don’t eat meat, which meant missing out.

Luckily with a little bit of research, I was able to narrow down a few restaurants in Buffalo that make a veggie-friendly version of Buffalo wings. So before driving out on Sunday morning, we stopped at Amy’s Place. They not only had vegetarian wings but had the full menu available all day, so we were even able to get vegetarian Buffalo wings at 9 a.m. It was worth it. They were finger-licking good. (Thanks, Amy’s!)

The point is, whether you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or whatever, you shouldn’t have to miss out on fresh croissants in Paris, tacos in Mexico City, or other specialties wherever you go. There’s likely someone out there making a version you can eat. Here’s how to find it.

Check HappyCow
I’ve used this fantastic site to find vegetarian sushi in Tokyo, veggie dumplings in Taipei, and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the middle of nowhere. It’s an invaluable resource for vegans and vegetarians around the globe.

Try searching on social networks
If you’re going somewhere new, look up #vegetarianinphoenix or #glutenfreeMexicocity, or something similar on Twitter and Instagram. You’ll probably see some tempting options come up you didn’t even know you were looking for. Vegan donuts in Montreal? OK then.

Ask on Chowhound
I’ve sung the praises of Chowhound on this site before, but I’m bringing them up again because they are another great resource If you ever need a specialty restaurant recommendation or somewhere gluten-free-friendly to take your friend coming into town, check the boards here. Someone likely posted recommendations already. If not, post a new thread so someone local can help you out.

Be flexible
This is just a personal tip. Don’t be THAT guy. If you’re in a new restaurant or cafe where you don’t think they’ll be able to accommodate you, just have a tea or coffee and relax. You can always stop by a grocery store and stock up on essentials before you head back to the hotel or Airbnb.

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This is a text widget, which allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. You can use them to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. Edit them in the Widget section of the Customizer.